Methods for detecting brevetoxins in seawater, in biological matrices, and on excitable membranes

Although the toxins differ in each of the principal polyether marine seafood intoxication syndromes, developing technology is of general applicability. The brevetoxins can be readily detected in seawater, in dinoflagellate cells, and in shellfish using standardized mouse bioassay, isocratic high performance liquid chromatography, radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay...each possessing distinct advantages and disadvantages. Clinical diagnosis, pharmacokinetics, and membrane-receptor studies on the contrary require specialized radioligand technology and immunofluorescent and immunodense imaging. The applicability of brevetoxins assays towards predictive, detection, and molecular mechanism of action of ciguatoxin is presented.